Monday, April 27, 2009

another family weekend, this time with the Nielsens

Well I think I definitely over did it this weekend, but despite being overtired and exhausted Mark and I had a great time. On Friday I had the day off, and so did Mark. I brought my car to the shop to have the non-functioning locks in the doors and the a/c assessed...I didn't authorize any repairs until I got estimates...so the locks are broken and cost $700 to replace, and the a/c needs a new compressor and sensor which is $1200. That is just the cost of parts, not labor. It solved my problem...screw it, I need a new car. I am starting to look and will probably buy one in the next 3-4 weeks.

The Mark's co-worker threw a BBQ, and I got WAY Too drunk. I was so embarassed when at 4am I woke up at home with Mark and had no recollection of how I got there. The last thing I remembered was playing flip cup. Thank goodness Mark said I hadn't embarassed myself too much, and he wasn't upset with me at all.

Saturday morning Mark and I left early for Long Island. It was a tremendously long drive. But we got there early enough to enjoy a nap in our amazing hotel before the wedding.

We made it to the wedding, my cousin Alicia and her husband Angel, just in time. We met up with my aunt Carol and cousin Craig and Debbie. It was great, I hadn't seen them in several years, and it was such a nice experience catching up. I didn't get to talk to my aunt Betty and uncle Denny (the bride's parents) much, and I only talked to Alicia and Angel once, but Mark and I had a great time. The music was so fun. There was an open bar. We loved catching up with my family, and Mark got along with them great too. (I think he was quite flattered when Carol hugged him goodbye and said "I love you ! You passed the test" and when Debbie told me so he could hear "Linds, he is a keeper!". I def. am lucky and know I found a keeper : ).

The onyl strange thing for us was how late everything went. The wedding started at 7pm, and dinner was not served until 11pm. We left at midnight before the cake or bouquet.

Then on Sunday we went to Albany. We grabbed some food at bombers since I have been ranting about the bbq tofu there for ages, and then made it to be with my family for Easter dinner (late) at 530. By the time it was all over we were both exhausted, and disgustingly sweaty since the a/c in my car doesn't work. But we had a good time, enjoyed tasty burritos, and watched the infamous easter egg hunt my grandma does for the boys every year (I could totally imagine Mark participating some year with the other boys).

On the ride home I think I realized how burnt out Mark was, but I was too, and I was so proud of both of us for not getting cranky and just agreeing that if we did this again we would space it out over multiple weekends instead of drive 12 hours in 2 days thru 3 states to all these events (of course, the idea had been mine originally, but I think Mark was right and it was too much to pull off in one weekend). I really did catch a keeper. ; )

Thursday, April 23, 2009

aspirations

Mark has been into the stock market since a couple months before I started dating him, but in the last year he has really started to take it seriously. He is very smart with money, and he seems to make small amounts every week, occasionally big wins too, but then there are the rare losses that are larger then he likes. He just finished a course thru his bank on trading in the stock market and was a star student. It was interesting this week when he told me how he wished he would make it big in the stock market, and that he daydreams about it a lot even though he is pretty sure it won't happen. I realized what I daydream about at the gym today thinking about our conversation while reading my "Runner's World" magazine. Ever since I started running a lot (when my dad got sick) I have loved it. A year after my dad died I ran my first marathon, and while my time was not great, it was a great accomplishment. Since then I have been improving with almost every marathon I run, and I even got over my IT Band syndrome in the last 4 months and this week was the first week in over 6 months that I ran over 50 miles in 7 days. It felt amazing.

I was reading an article on famous runners and not famous runners, and I realized my aspirations (as unrealistic as they are) are to be an accomplished runner. I don't want to run in the olympics, but reading about women marathoners who do made me jealous. Their full time job is running. They run 100-120 miles a week, and as such spend 3-5 hours a day exercising, and eat about 4000 calories a day or more. Then there was an article on qualifying for the Boston Marathon, which even though I could run it (and have twice now) via the charity route, one of my goals in life is to qualify. Until I am 35 I have the same goal, to run a marathon in under 3:40, which means I qualify for Boston. The article talked about how competitive it was, and how most runners average 10 marathons before they qualify (which is good since I have only run 5 now). Plus that only 7.9% of men and women who run marathons every year my age (between 20-34) have beat the qualifying time. I know it keeps things unrealistic, but I can dream. Like Mark, I am going to cling to a goal, and mine will be to qualify for the Boston Marathon, and Mark's can be to make it big in the stock market. I know we both have what it takes, but we will also need a little luck, and probably more free time.

P.S. I am still obsessed with Ratatat and can't wait to see them in concert again.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

ratatat never ceases to amaze me

I saw ratatat at the house of blues in boston last night, it was my 3rd time seeing them and I still adore them so much!

I am on vacation this week, which has been much needed. I have gotten Tons of errands and chores done already, and had lots of doctors appts. Yesterday I had a follow- OBGYN appt. and I am so bummed I met my favorite gynecologist EVER. I got reassigned since my doctor was busy, and I loved this new doctor, she was great and we hit it off right away. Luckily, she spent her first two years in practice in Bridgeport, CT so she is going to recommend some of her friends who are OBGYN docs there for me when I go to Darien.

Yesterday was Marathon Monday and I was so bummed to not be running it, hopefully next year! And then in the evening Mark and I went to the ratatat concert. The first time Mark heard them he was not a big fan, and then he was a super sweet boyfriend who agreed to go to a concert with them last year, and I officially got him hooked. He loves ratatat now, and was just as psyched as me for the concert. His friend Josh and his girlfriend and a friend came with us. Mark and I were the only real die-hard ratatat fans, but the otehrs got in to it once we moved upstairs and had ample room to dance. Ratatat is SUCH good dancing music. Mark and I were soaked in sweat when we left, but it was a great time (except for taking the T home and running in the pouring rain back to his apartment at 12:30).

Today I had a podiatry appt. When I went to the PT in the fall and was diagnosed with IT band, they told me I needed to get my arches replaced (which were made by a podiatrist about 5 years ago and cost $400). Plus in the last 2 weeks I have been having more foot pain (but my IT Band is under control thanks to my obsession with pain and the foam roller, haha). Well, good news is I don't need new arches. Bad news is my feet hurt but there is nothing wrong with my feet. The doctor said my tendons in the calves and hamstrings were SUPER tight from running, and that it was extending in to the tendons in my feet. So I need to stretch even more in addition to my IT Band stretches...damn. But the good news is my arches are fine. He looked them over and had me walk in them, and he said they will be good for at least 10 years total, maybe even 15. He said the PT was referring to arches that they give patients, which are flimsy and not well made, but a podiatrist arches should last 10-20 years depending on your activity level. Yay!

Saturday, April 18, 2009

The Big Buttinsky

I spent the last week at Mass Vet Referral Hospital in Woburn on ER and Cardio, and I absolutely LOVED it. If I end up back in Massachusetts I am DEFINITELY applying for a job there. I did pretty well too, but not great, they really liked me, but I think I am starting to beat myself up if I get a question wrong since I know in 2 months I will be the doctor.

Ryan has been in Cali all week, so I have been watching the dogs. It hasn't been too bad...the only down side was literally an hour after he left for the airport my internet gave out...it still isnt back either...Mark looked at it last night and thinks it is a problem with my computer, but we can't figure out what, and I feel like it was more then a coincidence that it gave out an hour after Ryan left (after taking his computer with him, and the airport networks in our house are through his equipment).

I have found a new pet peeve of mine...when people ask me for directions while I am running. It is one thing if I am walking, but to pull uyour car over while I am working hard and expect me to stop and give you all the attention in the world is obnoxious! This lady almost ran me over the other day to stop me on my run, I stopped, she asked where the train was...I explained how she needed to go to the end of the street, take a left, then to the end of that street, and take a right, then about a mile down the road would be the train. Instead of thanking me she started questioning me! She pointed to the right and said "No, the train is that way isn't it?" I explained that there were no trains that way for almost 3 miles, and they were in the city. Then she continued to argue when I repeated my directions. Finally she said rudely "I want the Everett train, it's that way, right?" pointing right. "No, Somerville is that way, the Everett train is the way I showed you." She finally understood and let me go back to my run...what an ungrateful lady!

The last thing I learned this week that I loved is the phrase "The Big Buttinsky". I need to remember that and use it sometime. One of the vets thought the tech and owners were taking too long in the room, so she said "Ok, I need to go split them up and do the Big Buttinsky here." and then she left to go barge in to the room. I like that phrase.

Monday, April 13, 2009

family weekend

This past weekend really turned out to be a family weekend. First my mom came to visit on Saturday. I had a ton of cat food stock piled for her, and she brought me some stuff for easter. We went to Whole Foods (there are no Whole Foods or Trader Joes in Albany so she wanted to buy a couple unique organic ingredients that she needed). Then we met up with Mark and went to Diesel Cafe in Davis Square for an amazing lunch. My mom bought for all of us, and I guess while I was scoping out the table Mark was assertive and said he would buy tickets to the art museum, and my mom laughed, smiled and told him she knew when to back down.

We went to the Fogg at Harvard. It was fun, my mom spent a lot of time telling Mark about art history, which I think he enjoyed. Sadly, it started pouring, and we were without umbrellas, so we ran over to TeaLuxe in Harvard Square for tea. Then I went in to the Harvard store to buy an umbrella (I was glad I found one without the Harvard name on it) and after that my mom said she was ready to go. I was bummed since I had planned on going to dinner in Boston too, but since we had a late lunch and the bad weather she seemed ready to leave after 5 hours. Still, I had a good time, so did she and Mark.

Sunday was Easter at Mark's parents house. I haven't ever talked to his mom so much in my life! Mark wasn't feeling to good, so he spent a lot of the time on the couch with his dad sleeping or watching golf, but I stayed in the kitchen chatting with his mom and helped her do all the dishes after dinner too. Mark thought it was amusing since Mark's mom and I both talk a mile a minute non-stop sometimes, and it seemed like a competition between the two of us to him of who could talk more. (Mark says his mom won). I still enjoyed it and talked to his mom about quite a wide variety of topics, it is so nice to really like your significant other's parents. But still, after 4 hours I was BEAT. We swung by Amy's new house in Andover to drop off a painting and got home after 9pm. What a fun but tiring family weekend!

Thursday, April 9, 2009

wine tasting nights

Mark goes to "poker night" with the guys once a week, something that I think is common among a lot of guys. But then back in December Mark recommended that I host a weekly or close to weekly event with wine tasting as its theme. Mark, Ryan and I all love wine and it would be a fun way to have friends over to relax during the week and try new wines.

I started wine tasting night in January. Although the crowd was small for the first night, it was fun. It was on a Tuesday, and we all enjoyed the tasty food I made for dinner (vegan lasagna) and had a couple bottles of wine amongst the 6 of us.

I wasn't able to host another one for several weeks, but started the tradition up again a couple weeks ago. 3 weeks ago I hoted "Wine tasting: New England Style" where all the wines were from New England, and I made corn chowder, apple pie, and bread for dinner. The same crowd came, and it was another success. Then this past week was night # 3, this time "Obscure varietal" themed. And this time it drew a crowd...we had 10 people, a new all time high (it actually almost got too crowded, but it was still fun). I made a vegan fake cheese impasta dish, apple muffins, vegan cookies, and bread as always.

I am really glad Mark recommended this tradition, and I am hoping to keep it going in Connecticut once I move there. I will miss these nights out here in Boston...I will have one more before graduation in 2 weeks from now, with an african wine theme.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

David Sedaris

This past weekend Mark and I finally got to use the last of my xmas gifts to him. I got us tickets to see David Sedaris at UMass Amherst. We drove out at 5pm and got some thai food for dinner. The show lasted from 830-1030. I LOVED it. He read several short stories as well as pages from his diary. I loved his story on the Obama inauguration and one about internet porn. He was really funny. Mark enjoyed himself too, but sadly the kid next to him was obnoxious and laughed too loud at everything, which I think annoyed Mark (it would of annoyed me too). Sadly it was a long drive home...we got back at 1am and I had to get up at 6am for school, but it was worth it. David Sedaris is quite a funny guy.

conservation medicine elective

The week after my avian elective I spent another week at the wildlife clinic, but this time in a didactic (lecture based) elective on conservation medicine. We covered two topics a day with various guest speakers (experts) from around the country. Most of the course grade was based on participation, and I was surprised that by the second day I had established myself as one of the most vocal in the class, and I also had knowledge of and had heard about every topic we discussed. It saddened me that getting an amazing job as a conservation veterinarian involves kissing ass and knowing the right people, which I am obviously not good at (example, my international program experience). Plus if not, then you get paid shit.

The various topics discussed included:
1. conservation medicine: the emerging new field (ask me about it sometime, I would love to tell you SO much about it)
2. chytrid fungal infection in amphibians (the fungus decimating out world's frog populations)
3. antibiotic resistance and its link to farm animals
4. lead toxicity (in wildlife and humans and pets)
5. bison and brucellosis transmission to cattle
6. sea birds as sentinals for health
7. the ocean's health and sea turtle conservation
8. wildlife trade and law enforcement

Then on the last day we had to choose a topic of our own to present a 1 page briefing and 5-8 page paper on. The topic had to be controversial and we would pretend that we were presenting it to congress and making an arguement for intervention (government participation) if warranted. We were given a list of 20 topics to choose from, or we could make up our own with the prof's permission. I was the only one of 8 students to choose my own topic: The Navy's SONAR Use and Its Impacts on Marine Mammals. I learned SO much. Mark Pokras had me email some colleagues of his to ask for articles on the subject, and they sent me 56 articles. I spent too long reading, and all thursday night writing. Mark reviewed my paper for me at 11pm on Thursday, which went over, well, ok. He basically tore my paper apart, and while I wanted to argue and tell him he was wrong, I knew he wasn't. He didn't comment on the subject matter at all, it was my way of writing. I write passive voice, and I am not a good arguer in articles...I use too many coulds and maybes. Mark helped me re-phrase the first 5 pages by getting rid of ambiguous statements. It was exhausting for both of us, but I think I was very mature about it and took his criticism well since it was deserved.

My presentation on Friday went GREAT! I volunteered to go first, and it was a huge hit. I had answers for ALL my profs and classmates' questions. Later in the day my prof pulled me aside to tell me I had done a superb job. And now I feel like an expert on NAVY SONAR use and Marine Mammals.....again, ask me about it sometime, I will tell you yet another reason why to hate the Bush Administration...at least you will if you like whales and dolphins!

advanced avian elective

two weeks ago I again found myself at the Tufts Wildlife Clinic, but this time in the senior class Advanced Avian Medicine elective. It is hosted every other year for interested fourth years who want to work with birds. Lectures occurred every morning on psittacines (aka parrots) and raptors (birds of prey) or passerines (song birds and finches). In the afternoons we had labs. In one lab several employees on campus who owned birds brought their pets in for us to learn basic physical exam, nail, beak, and wing trims and other basic procedures on parrots. Another lab involved cadavers (dead birds from the wildlife clinic) in which we passed catheters and did fake surgical procedures. One day we drove to Rhode Island to visit Foster Parrots, an amazing parrot sanctuary (not open to the public) full of HUNDREDS of abandoned pet birds. They are going to be featured on NPR's morning edition shortly on the economy and people giving up their pet birds. I loved the lab and learned a lot. The nice thing is once I graduate I will be allowed to practice on exotics as much as I want...hopefully I can drum up some pet bird clients!

bringing things up to speed...

it has been too long since I have posted, so what is about to follow is a series of short blogs on my last 3 weeks...enjoy!

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

damn drowsiness

MIDOL 20 tablets $4.99
active ingredients:
acetominophen 500mg
Pamabrom 25mg
caffeine

Generic Menstrual Pain Relief Midol substitute 40 tablets $4.50
active ingredients:
acetominophen 500mg
Pamabrom 25mg
pyrilamine maleate 15mg (Antihistamine)

which would you choose? Probably the generic, more pills, less money, basically the same ingredients, right? So I did. Then 30 minutes in to class (an hour after I took two pills) my eyes start drooping. For 3 hours I fought sleep realizing that I am WAY too susceptible to antihistamines and their drowsiness effects. Darn.